Chris Huhne Launches Spring Appeal for Home-Start Volunteers

11.55.28am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 14th Mar 2005

Chris Huhne Launches Spring Appeal for Home-Start Volunteers

Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne today launched the spring appeal for more volunteers for Home-Start Eastleigh, the local charity that provides support for families with young children.

Mr Huhne said that Home-Start had made a dramatic difference to the quality of many local childrens' lives and had helped 218 families with children under 5 years old in the last year alone.

Through home visits and groups, young parents are supported by an experienced parent who is often able to relieve anxiety and stress. However, Home-Start needs more volunteers to maintain its efforts locally.

Mary Diaper, who runs Home-Start in Eastleigh, said that the only experience necessary for volunteers was that they should be parents themselves. All volunteers undergo training during April.

Mrs Diaper said that Home-Start was aiming to recruit 24 local volunteers for the two courses in April, which would allow the charity to meet rising local needs among young families under pressure.

Chris Huhne and Mrs Diaper are pictured here with Cllr Glynn Davies-Dear, a long-standing supporter, holding the charity's visitors book which they hope will soon be boosted by new recruits.

Mr Huhne said: "Family life is the foundation on which our community is built, and Home-Start makes a really impressive and worthwhile contribution to strengthening families at one of the most stressful and often confusing times when children are very young".

Mrs Diaper said: "Volunteers are crucial to the future of family support. They are the backbone of our work in supporting families and helping young children".

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Mrs Diaper at Home-Start Eastleigh, 16 Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AL or on 023 8061 2310.